Brett Jay isn’t jumping head first back into coaching football months into stepping away after 17 years as a head coach.

The River View graduate who guided Moses Lake last fall to a record-setting season with his son Brady putting up eye-popping stats at quarterback calls his role with the young Pacific Northwest Cristian College program, “consultant.”

He’ll still be headed to Missoula, Mont., to cheer on Brady, who will be a freshman at Montana, and in the stands when his and wife Hayley’s oldest daughter Sophie takes to the volleyball court.

But the lure of helping former Kennewick coach and Bill Templeton usher in the fifth season for the Gladiators, Washington’s lone junior college football program, was enough for Jay to chip in.

“I believe in coach Bill Templeton and the direction and the future of the program,” Jay said in a message on the program’s Facebook page. “I’m just really excited to get started and help anyway I can.”

PNWCC, which earned accreditation in April 2021, launched its football program in the fall of 2022 with Templeton, who coached the Lions for 17 seasons, at the helm.

The Gladiators play in the Scenic West Athletic Conference, but since the league doesn’t their schedule is heavy with games against the junior varsity squads from Central Washington and the NAIA and NCAA Division III, including Pacific Lutheran, Whitworth and George Fox.

There are also dates against other young junior college programs.

While Jay says his gameday involvement will be limited, the offense should have his fingerprints on it.

PNWCC’s roster also will have a definite local feel with several players from the class of 2026 committing to play for the Gladiators, including:

• Jeremiah Baker, Moses Lake offensive lineman

• Amari Benitez, Davis wide receiver

• Jaxon Berg, East Valley quarterback: Offensive MVP in the CWAC, helping the conference-champion Red Devils to the Class 2A state semifinals

• Alijah Castillo, Grandview offensive lineman

• Makana O’Ke Akua Garza, Pasco wide receiver

• Miguel Gaut, Naches Valley athlete: Second-team all-SCAC running back

• Aaron Gintner, Southridge punter

• Xander Jaramillo, Kiona-Benton linebacker: Third-team all-SCAC

• Gavin Kelly, Kennewick wide receiver/defensive back

• Charlie Lynch, Southridge offensive lineman

• Anthony Mariano, Kennewick kicker: Second-team all-MCC

• Noah Newkirk, Davis quarterback: Honorable mention all-CBBN

• Sione Nuku, Hanford running back/linebacker: Second-team all-MCC linebacker

• Ayden Orosco, Richland defensive back

• Caden Pratt, Kennewick cornerback

• Longino Salgado, Pasco running back/linebacker

• Stephen Wardan, Kamiakin running back